Critical Finding
See whether the property can operate now, what blocks it, and which exception may apply.
Local guide
Knoxville Short-Term Rental Laws
Knoxville short-term rentals are subject to Knoxville Short-Term Rental Permit. Short-term rentals inside Knoxville require a City permit and applicable business-tax registration.
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- Official sources
- Address used only for local rules
Compliance layers
A Clear Answer, Then a Path Forward.
Address Context
Confirm zoning, current land use, jurisdiction, and the rules that actually govern the address.
Required Approvals
Get the permits, licenses, documents, inspections, and tax registrations needed before launch.
Recommended Path
Follow prioritized next steps, deadlines, renewal duties, and viable alternatives when rules change.
Occupancy tax calculator
Estimate occupancy tax in Knoxville
Enter the nightly rate and stay length to estimate the lodging taxes and guest total for this jurisdiction.
- Gross rent$150.00 × 3 nights
- $450.00
- Mandatory taxable feesRequired cleaning, resort, or similar fees included in the tax base.
- $0.00
- Tennessee state sales tax on lodging (7%) $450.00 × 7%
- $31.50
- Estimated taxes and fees
- $31.50
Guest pays
Assumptions used
- Common short-stay boundary: The displayed estimate is limited to 1–29 nights and does not allocate longer-stay exemptions or first-N-night rules.
- Deterministic state or common base: The room charge plus one mandatory-fee input is used only where the cited official lodging guidance establishes that common taxable base.
What may change the final amount
- Local or property-specific tax layers are outside the base estimate. Knoxville and Knox County local-option sales and occupancy layers are excluded from the state base because the reviewed official materials do not close one common local fee pool; they may increase the result. This factor is excluded from the displayed estimate and may increase the result; verify it with the cited official source before filing.
Estimated tax is $31.50. Estimated guest total is $481.50.
Estimate only. Verify the property jurisdiction, exemptions, taxable charges, filing duties, and marketplace collection with the linked official sources.
Legal status
Can you operate a short-term rental in Knoxville?
Short-term rentals inside Knoxville require a City permit and applicable business-tax registration.
Knoxville: Knoxville treats a property listed and booked through a hosting platform for stays of less than 30 days as a short-term rental unit.
A Type 1 permit is for the owner’s principal residence in a residential district. Type 2 covers a non-owner-occupied unit in a non-residential district.
Local approval
Knoxville Short-Term Rental Permit Obtain the City permit before operating a rental for stays under 30 days.
Published fee
The City application lists $70 for a Type 1 permit and $120 for a Type 2 permit. Renewal is $50 for either type. Use the current Knoxville fee schedule when filing.
Renewal cycle
A permit is valid for one year unless revoked and must be renewed annually. Keep the approval active for every operating period.
Before applying
Knoxville eligibility and property checks
Resolve the address, applicant, and private-property limits before paying a government fee.
Local rule 1
A Type 1 permit is for the owner’s principal residence in a residential district. Type 2 covers a non-owner-occupied unit in a non-residential district.
RequiredLocal rule 2
Confirm the parcel zoning in KGIS before applying. Type 1 is limited to an owner-occupied principal residence in a residential district; Type 2 is limited to non-residential districts where residential use is allowed.
RequiredPrimary-residence test
A Type 1 permit is for the owner’s principal residence in a residential district. Type 2 covers a non-owner-occupied unit in a non-residential district.
RequiredPrivate restrictions
For a Knoxville property, government approval does not override a lease, condominium declaration, HOA covenant, mortgage, or insurance restriction.
Required
Application path
How to complete the Knoxville approval
Obtain the City permit before operating a rental for stays under 30 days.
Confirm the regulating address
Verify that the property is governed by Knoxville and matches the local eligibility rules.
Assemble property evidence
Prepare the required file, including Recorded deed and operator application, Two residency records for Type 1, Site and floor plan.
File for Knoxville Short-Term Rental Permit
Use the official application page or portal. The published fee is The City application lists $70 for a Type 1 permit and $120 for a Type 2 permit. Renewal is $50 for either type.
Keep proof of approval
Retain the issued approval, application record, payment confirmation, and any conditions that apply to this Knoxville property.
Knoxville official application entry point
Current government instructions for Knoxville Short-Term Rental Permit.
Application file
Documents, notice, and safety evidence
Build the file around the exact property rather than a generic hosting checklist.
Recorded deed and operator application
Include current, property-specific evidence for recorded deed and operator application.
RequiredTwo residency records for Type 1
Include current, property-specific evidence for two residency records for type 1.
RequiredSite and floor plan
Include current, property-specific evidence for site and floor plan.
RequiredLife Safety Compliance Verification
Include current, property-specific evidence for life safety compliance verification.
RequiredCity and County business licenses
Include current, property-specific evidence for city and county business licenses.
RequiredNeighborhood notification evidence for Type 1
Include current, property-specific evidence for neighborhood notification evidence for type 1.
RequiredEntity good-standing record for Type 2
Include current, property-specific evidence for entity good-standing record for type 2.
RequiredInspection or compliance review
The application requires a signed Life Safety Compliance Verification. The City may inspect to verify smoke alarms, carbon-monoxide alarms, and fire extinguishers.
RequiredNotice or local-contact duty
Type 1 applicants must notify the applicable neighborhood organization and owners of adjacent and directly or diagonally opposite properties within two business days of applying.
Required
Taxes
Knoxville lodging taxes and booking channels
Knoxville imposes a 3% Hotel Occupancy Privilege Tax, and Tennessee sales tax and business-tax requirements can also apply.
- Tax treatment
- Knoxville imposes a 3% Hotel Occupancy Privilege Tax, and Tennessee sales tax and business-tax requirements can also apply.Rates and exemptions can depend on the address and length of stay.
- Who collects
- Knoxville imposes a 3% Hotel Occupancy Privilege Tax, and Tennessee sales tax and business-tax requirements can also apply.A marketplace collection setting does not automatically resolve direct-booking obligations.
- Return timing
- File Knoxville occupancy-tax returns by the 20th of the following month, including a zero return for a month with no rental activity.Keep returns and payment confirmations even when a platform remits some charges.
Keep the approval active
Renewal, enforcement, and appeals
The published renewal cycle is A permit is valid for one year unless revoked and must be renewed annually.
- Operating deadline
- Obtain the City permit before operating a rental for stays under 30 days.Do not treat an incomplete filing as issued approval.
- Enforcement 1
- Knoxville: The City may issue citations for noncompliance and may revoke a permit for persistent complaints or violations. Knoxville operates a 24-hour STR hotline at 865-337-8275.Preserve the Knoxville notice and respond within its stated deadline.
- Review or appeal
- Knoxville: Use the review, correction, hearing, or appeal instructions included in the government decision or enforcement notice.Use the Knoxville procedure and deadline in the actual decision.
From rules to action
Turn short-term rental rules into your next clear move.
Tell Pine what you’re trying to do. Pine can organize the official requirements into a practical plan—and help with the research, calls, emails, and follow-ups that come next.
Start with a common question
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Are short-term rentals legal in Knoxville?
Short-term rentals inside Knoxville require a City permit and applicable business-tax registration. Knoxville Short-Term Rental Permit is the local approval identified by the government sources.
What approval is required in Knoxville?
Knoxville Short-Term Rental Permit is required. Obtain the City permit before operating a rental for stays under 30 days.
How much does the Knoxville approval cost?
The City application lists $70 for a Type 1 permit and $120 for a Type 2 permit. Renewal is $50 for either type.
What documents should a Knoxville host prepare?
The published file includes Recorded deed and operator application, Two residency records for Type 1, Site and floor plan, Life Safety Compliance Verification, City and County business licenses, Neighborhood notification evidence for Type 1, Entity good-standing record for Type 2.
Who handles lodging tax for a Knoxville booking?
Knoxville imposes a 3% Hotel Occupancy Privilege Tax, and Tennessee sales tax and business-tax requirements can also apply.
How is the Knoxville approval renewed or enforced?
Renewal in Knoxville: A permit is valid for one year unless revoked and must be renewed annually. Knoxville: The City may issue citations for noncompliance and may revoke a permit for persistent complaints or violations. Knoxville operates a 24-hour STR hotline at 865-337-8275.